Thursday, August 31, 2006
Holy Inventory Batman
Do you believe that south of 98 on 30 A from end to end there are 354 houses for sale (not including condos here) with asking prices between $1 Million and $2 Million dollars ?
believe it.
believe it.
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
The best Driveway On 30A
It was a dark and stormy night and I was driving into the Retreat entrance which is well hidden.
With the lightning crashing and the wind howling and the steam rising from the road as the rain began to fall I had the sensation of being out in the country on a winding lane on the way to the Manor house.
This is the best neighborhood entrance on 30A.
A great mood enhancing amenity.
With the lightning crashing and the wind howling and the steam rising from the road as the rain began to fall I had the sensation of being out in the country on a winding lane on the way to the Manor house.
This is the best neighborhood entrance on 30A.
A great mood enhancing amenity.
Monday, August 28, 2006
How to avoid being eaten
while you enjoy the beach and the Gulf.
1. If no life Guard is present you need one member of your group to be a lookout for the rest of you. Stay within earshot of your spotter.
2. If you are alone do not turn your back on the Gulf. Scan side to side frequently.
3. If you snorkle or dive be sure to carry a divers knife strapped to your leg.
1. If no life Guard is present you need one member of your group to be a lookout for the rest of you. Stay within earshot of your spotter.
2. If you are alone do not turn your back on the Gulf. Scan side to side frequently.
3. If you snorkle or dive be sure to carry a divers knife strapped to your leg.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
SHARK!
At 3:10 PM today Teresa, Kevin and I were sitting on the beach in front of the west walkover
when we saw a six foot or more Hammerhead Shark attack and eat a 2' to 3' Ray.
It was a 5 Minute chase coming within 20 feet of the shore at one point.
It was Wild Kingdom up close.
The two foot depth of the first sandbar was no problem for this big boy to cross.
When he accelerated to strike the fleeing ray you could see that you would have zero chance
getting to shore before he would close in on you. we called 911 and reported the shark.
All over the Board
Checking in with the latest from Weather Underground (click Ernesto Link)
Ernesto
we have gone from the LA/TX border all the way to Jacksonville Fl in a few days.
Again the farther out the forecast the more it can change.
For Now, The Keys to Pensacola are at risk.
And we have seen these Bad Boys hook or Jog just before landfall.
Based on Ernestos current speed we will have had no landfalling hurricane from June 1 to August 31 on Santa Rosa Beach according to my rough calculations.
That in itself is quite amazing after last year.
Ernesto
we have gone from the LA/TX border all the way to Jacksonville Fl in a few days.
Again the farther out the forecast the more it can change.
For Now, The Keys to Pensacola are at risk.
And we have seen these Bad Boys hook or Jog just before landfall.
Based on Ernestos current speed we will have had no landfalling hurricane from June 1 to August 31 on Santa Rosa Beach according to my rough calculations.
That in itself is quite amazing after last year.
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Thanks, I feel better now.....
PROPERTY INSURANCE
The basic solution to Florida's hurricane insurance crisis is for consumers to pay more, insurance officials said yesterday before a state committee created by Gov. Jeb Bush to explore property insurance solutions. Former FAR President Frank Kowalski and Realtor Lee Arnold serve on the committee.Read the full story:http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n1-08252006
The basic solution to Florida's hurricane insurance crisis is for consumers to pay more, insurance officials said yesterday before a state committee created by Gov. Jeb Bush to explore property insurance solutions. Former FAR President Frank Kowalski and Realtor Lee Arnold serve on the committee.Read the full story:http://www.planetrealtor.com/florida/news/daily/news.cfm?article=n1-08252006
Friday, August 25, 2006
Perspective
Sometimes it helps to look at things from a different angle.
What if we had not had a record Hurricane season in 2005 and a hurricane in Sept. of 2004 ?
What if instead we had recorded a couple of record years of rainfall in Draper Lake and the water flooded the wooded preserve area and rose high enough to submerge all or parts of several lots that back up to the preserve or lake ?
If the board reccomended an assessment that required the Gulf front owners and other non-affected lots to pay a portion of the assessment based on the premise that the value of the Gulf front and other lots would drop as well if action was not taken would this seem reasonable?
What if we had not had a record Hurricane season in 2005 and a hurricane in Sept. of 2004 ?
What if instead we had recorded a couple of record years of rainfall in Draper Lake and the water flooded the wooded preserve area and rose high enough to submerge all or parts of several lots that back up to the preserve or lake ?
If the board reccomended an assessment that required the Gulf front owners and other non-affected lots to pay a portion of the assessment based on the premise that the value of the Gulf front and other lots would drop as well if action was not taken would this seem reasonable?
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Thanks Max
Max Mayfield, the retiring head Hurricane Shaman at NOAA decided to scare the hell out of everyone again the other day by saying that if we thought Katrina was bad we haven't seen
anything yet. Timing the announcement before all the Year later Katrina specials that are about to hit the airwaves Max says that an even bigger badder Hurricane is going to hit in mabye 5 years or it could be 100 years.
I am going to go head to head with Max with my own prediction here.
Somewhere on Americas Coastline we are going to have a more devastating hurricane than Katrina, it could be 3 years or it could be 75 years, but we are going to get it sure as Sin.
Now Max has all the training and experience and I am no weather man.
Let's see who wins this prediction competition.......
anything yet. Timing the announcement before all the Year later Katrina specials that are about to hit the airwaves Max says that an even bigger badder Hurricane is going to hit in mabye 5 years or it could be 100 years.
I am going to go head to head with Max with my own prediction here.
Somewhere on Americas Coastline we are going to have a more devastating hurricane than Katrina, it could be 3 years or it could be 75 years, but we are going to get it sure as Sin.
Now Max has all the training and experience and I am no weather man.
Let's see who wins this prediction competition.......
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Saints of the Retreat
Saint Kitts (also/previously known as Saint Christopher) is also an island in the Caribbean.
Saint Christopher is the patron saint of travelers.
St. Kitts street is currently the only street in the Retreat with no houses.
Saint Lucy of Syracuse, also known as Saint Lucia, is also an island in the Caribbean.
St. Lucia is the patron saint of blindness.
St. Lucia is the Lovely Street that our Gulf front homes are located on.
Saint Christopher is the patron saint of travelers.
St. Kitts street is currently the only street in the Retreat with no houses.
Saint Lucy of Syracuse, also known as Saint Lucia, is also an island in the Caribbean.
St. Lucia is the patron saint of blindness.
St. Lucia is the Lovely Street that our Gulf front homes are located on.
Monday, August 21, 2006
HEY we are Eligible for funding
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has released the 2006 Critical Erosion Report that outlines areas of the state that are eligible for funding. In Walton County , our overall mileage of critically eroded shoreline has increased to 14.3 miles of beaches but only includes 9.3 miles of roughly 15 miles of developed beaches along the 30-A corridor. Therefore, it does not include all of Walton County 's beaches.
The critically eroded areas as determined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection include eight areas (from west to east):
all of western Walton County that is currently being restored (5,0 miles)
from Stallworth Lake in Dune Allen and the eastern ½ of Old Florida Beach (2.7 miles)
from the Inn at Blue Mountain to near Draper Lake, but not all of Blue Mountain (1.0 miles) We need to define what Near Draper lake means though.
Gulf Trace (0.2 miles)
The western developed area of the Grayton Beach community, but not the drive-on access (0.1 miles)
From the western boundary of Old Seagrove through the Eastern Lake area (3.1 miles)
From near Camp Creek point to the eastern boundary of Sand Cliffs Subdivision (1.8 miles)
From the eastern border of Rosemary Beach to the western border of the Walton County TDC's Inlet Beach Regional Access (0.4 miles)
The critically eroded areas as determined by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection include eight areas (from west to east):
all of western Walton County that is currently being restored (5,0 miles)
from Stallworth Lake in Dune Allen and the eastern ½ of Old Florida Beach (2.7 miles)
from the Inn at Blue Mountain to near Draper Lake, but not all of Blue Mountain (1.0 miles) We need to define what Near Draper lake means though.
Gulf Trace (0.2 miles)
The western developed area of the Grayton Beach community, but not the drive-on access (0.1 miles)
From the western boundary of Old Seagrove through the Eastern Lake area (3.1 miles)
From near Camp Creek point to the eastern boundary of Sand Cliffs Subdivision (1.8 miles)
From the eastern border of Rosemary Beach to the western border of the Walton County TDC's Inlet Beach Regional Access (0.4 miles)
Sunday, August 20, 2006
2006 Storm season "BELOW NORMAL"?
Weather confounds the pundits
What's up ? < click link for article.
The unpredictability of weather forecasting is God's way of keeping us humble.
-Shawn O'Neal
The unpredictability of weather forecasting is God's way of keeping us humble.
-Shawn O'Neal
Thought for the Day
"To improve the golden moment of opportunity, and catch the good that is within our reach, is the great art of life."
- William James
Friday, August 18, 2006
SALE CLOSED IN THE RETREAT
$2.250 m sales price
Approx 2400 Sq. Ft.
Congratulations to the Hughes Family
And Welcome to the Heard Family
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Room for Growth
When I look at the first 12 pages of listings I think we have a lot of room for growth around here.
Greatest Estates
Greatest Estates
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Retreat "shores up" curbside
Sand Is being put just off the curb areas of the Retreat streets which is good.
I wonder if the Contractors are paying to fill these ruts.
The irony of this situation is that since Hurricane Ivan (two years ago next month) no sand has been placed on the Retreat Beach.......
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Hows this for a center Island ?
Rockerfeller Center FountainsPhoto By Teresa O"Neal , Copyright © All Rights Reserved
Monday, August 14, 2006
East Walkover < > West Walkover
<>
Daily Bread
Give us our daily bread and ummm could you add a glass of Glass of Chardonnay with that
Please?
Photo by Teresa O'Neal © 2006 All Rights Reserved
Sunday, August 13, 2006
Don't tread on me or my plants ...
What's a guy gotta do to keep big trucks from running over his LANDSCAPING .....
Beach Club Blues & Greens
Photo by Shawn O'Neal © 2006 All Rights Reserved
New Plants and pots are looking Good as they should in our elite neighborhood.
BRAVO and New Palms are welcome too.
Yes we did notice.
Photo by Shawn O'Neal © 2006 All Rights Reserved
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Thought for the day
Arrogation by the few of the powers conferred upon the many cannot
be tolerated.
-California Appeals Court
be tolerated.
-California Appeals Court
LINKS to more information.....
American Homeowners resourse center
Citizens for Constitutional Local Government
Community Associations network
Citizens for Constitutional Local Government
Community Associations network
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Thought for the day
The spirit of democracy cannot be established in the midst of terrorism, whether governmental or popular.
Mahatma Gandhi
Is this why our enemies will go to any lengths in Iraq to prevent us from bringing stability
and democratic elections to the region?
The News today about the Terrorist Airport plot pushed everything else into the background.
Mahatma Gandhi
Is this why our enemies will go to any lengths in Iraq to prevent us from bringing stability
and democratic elections to the region?
The News today about the Terrorist Airport plot pushed everything else into the background.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
BIG MONEY
Stephen Glassman estimates that in 2004 the value of the HOA industry was $9.4 Billion a month or more than $100 Billion a year. Glassman states that " There is a lot at stake for developers, builders , property companies and their attorneys".
-Attorneys Donie Vanitzian and Stephen Glassman co-Wrote the book Villa Appalling:
Destroying the Myth of Affordable Community Living (2002).
-Attorneys Donie Vanitzian and Stephen Glassman co-Wrote the book Villa Appalling:
Destroying the Myth of Affordable Community Living (2002).
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Observations
Most people in New York City do not know much about this part of Florida.....
Some people say "I'm from South Florida" which seems to work fine.
"I'm from North Florida " does not have the same Chic effect.
And do not use the word "pahhandle" it really creates blank eyed stares.....
You mean like the panhandle of Oaklahoma or Texas ?
DO not mention that we are in the central Time Zone, That's just weird. In Florida?
Some people say "I'm from South Florida" which seems to work fine.
"I'm from North Florida " does not have the same Chic effect.
And do not use the word "pahhandle" it really creates blank eyed stares.....
You mean like the panhandle of Oaklahoma or Texas ?
DO not mention that we are in the central Time Zone, That's just weird. In Florida?
Saturday, August 05, 2006
Updated Hurricane Viewpoint
By John Ritter
USA TODAY
Animal in Beach Club ?
I heard repeated whimper type animal sounds that appear to be coming from the basement
under the left side of the beach club this morning......
It was a VERY Stormy night with more booms and flashes than the 4th of July at Seaside!
When your wicker porch furniture weighs twice as much, you know we got a lot of rain.
under the left side of the beach club this morning......
It was a VERY Stormy night with more booms and flashes than the 4th of July at Seaside!
When your wicker porch furniture weighs twice as much, you know we got a lot of rain.
Friday, August 04, 2006
HEY
Invitation to ECAM
As a gesture of Goodwill I would like to invite all of the Folks at ECAM to the StarBucks at the Grand (next to the new PUBLIX in SanDestin) . Your Favorite Starbucks Drink is on me.
We are all in this together.
Jay,
If You or Charleen can let me know a day thats good for your crew except Mondays (Monday's are bad hair days for me, very scary) We can get together and have a good time.
Shawn
We are all in this together.
Jay,
If You or Charleen can let me know a day thats good for your crew except Mondays (Monday's are bad hair days for me, very scary) We can get together and have a good time.
Shawn
Flashback to May + Retraction
ECAM has requested the Retreat Blog to apologize for referring to their company as ESCAM from a blog posting in MAY.
The acronym ESCAM, which was coined to mean Every Service Call Adds Money, was felt by the Good Folks at ECAM to have a disparaging effect which was not intended by the Retreat Blog.. Retreat Blog has retracted this reference as requested .
We truly regret any discomfort this may have caused ECAM .
The Author,
Retreat Blog
* Legal Notice: Retreat Blog (www.retreatblog.blogspot.com) is not affiliated with Summerville And O'Neal LLC
The acronym ESCAM, which was coined to mean Every Service Call Adds Money, was felt by the Good Folks at ECAM to have a disparaging effect which was not intended by the Retreat Blog.. Retreat Blog has retracted this reference as requested .
We truly regret any discomfort this may have caused ECAM .
The Author,
Retreat Blog
* Legal Notice: Retreat Blog (www.retreatblog.blogspot.com) is not affiliated with Summerville And O'Neal LLC
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Hellcat vs. Chris
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Hurricane in the corner pocket
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
And you were there....
The 2005 season was the worst in more than 150 years of records. A record number of tropical storms and hurricanes formed, including Dennis and the devastating Hurricane Katrina.
H I S T O R Y WAS MADE.
And did we OVER react? OH YEAH, DID WE EVER.
And now, no matter how things may turn out, we are all
bound together by this experience which we shall never forget.
H I S T O R Y WAS MADE.
And did we OVER react? OH YEAH, DID WE EVER.
And now, no matter how things may turn out, we are all
bound together by this experience which we shall never forget.
